Chemical reactor and method for chemically converting a first material into a second material

ABSTRACT

A chemical reactor and method for converting a first material into a second material is disclosed and wherein the chemical reactor is provided with a feed stream of a first material which is to be converted into a second material; and wherein the first material is combusted in the chemical reactor to produce a combustion flame, and a resulting gas; and an electrical arc is provided which is passed through or superimposed upon the combustion flame and the resulting gas to facilitate the production of the second material.

GOVERNMENT RIGHTS

The United States Government has rights in the following inventionpursuant to Contract No. DE-AC07-99ID13727 between the U.S. Departmentof Energy and Bechtel BWXT Idaho, LLC.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a chemical reactor and method ofchemically converting a first material into a second material, and morespecifically to a method which superimposes an electrical arc onto acombustion flame to superheat the combustion flame to plasma conditionsto facilitate the production of the second material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The prior art is replete with numerous examples of devices and othermethodology which converts a first material into a second material. Forexample, the use of a plasma for the conversion of a first material intoa second material is found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,372,156, the teachings ofwhich are incorporated by reference herein. It is well known from this,and other references that plasmas are useful for causing materials toundergo a chemical conversion that would typically not normally occur,or that would occur very slowly if the materials that were chemicallyreacted were presented in some form other than in a plasma state.

As will be recognized, the creation of a plasma is very electricallyenergy intensive endeavor. Consequently, the use of plasmas in theproduction of various materials in commercial quantities is somewhatrestricted in view of the costs attendant to purchasing the electricityand equipment necessary to produce the plasma and the other equipment toproduce the product of interest.

In certain chemical processes, chemical flame burners are employed tocombust a first material for purposes of reacting it with anothermaterial in order to produce a resulting compound. The conventionalflame burners, which are utilized in the industry, consume a significantamount of fuel, and air, to maintain the high operational temperaturesthat are necessary for these chemical reactions to occur. In anindustrial setting, the burners and confinement chambers utilized withthese assemblies tend to be rather large, and costly, and take up asignificant amount of floor space in any industrial building. Stillfurther, when comparing the relative costs of fabricating a chemicalflame burner to a plasma gas heater, for example, it is usually agreedthat the chemical flame burner will usually be less expensive tofabricate and to operate.

Therefore, a method for chemically converting a first material into asecond material which addresses the shortcomings attendant with theprior art practices is the subject of the present application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first aspect of the present invention relates to a method forchemically converting a first material into a second material and whichincludes providing a feed stream of a first material which is to beconverted into a second material; combusting the first material toproduce a combustion flame, and a resulting gas; and passing anelectrical arc through the combustion flame and resulting gas tofacilitate the production of the second material.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method forchemically converting a first material into a second material and whichincludes combusting a first material to produce a chemical flame whichhas a major dimension; and passing an electrical arc through thecombustion flame to create a plasma which extends along the majordimension of the flame and which facilitates the production of a secondmaterial.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method forchemically converting a first material into a second material and whichincludes providing a feed stream of a first material; providing achemical torch, and combusting the first material in the chemical torchto produce a chemical flame; providing a first electrode which ispositioned adjacent to the chemical torch, and the chemical flame;providing a second electrode which is positioned in spaced relation, anddownstream of the first electrode, and which is further located adjacentto the chemical flame; providing a source of electricity coupled to therespective first and second electrodes, and wherein the source ofelectricity produces an electrical arc which passes through the chemicalflame, and which facilitates a chemical reaction of the first materialto produce a second material; and collecting the second materialproduced by the chemical reaction of the first material at a locationdownstream of the second electrode.

Yet another aspect of the present invention relates to a chemicalreactor, and which includes a combustion assembly for receiving, andcombusting a first material to produce a combustion flame; a chemicalreactor positioned adjacent to the combustion assembly, and whichreceives the combustion flame; and an electrical arc which passesthrough the combustion flame to create a high temperature plasma, andwherein the plasma is formed in a fashion so as to increase theresidency time of the combustion flame within the plasma, and tofacilitate the chemical reaction of the first material into a secondmaterial.

Still further, another aspect of the present invention relates to achemical reactor and which includes a source of a first material whichis to be converted into a second material; a chemical torch which iscoupled in fluid flowing relation relative to the source of the firstmaterial, and which combusts the first material to produce a chemicalflame; a chemical reactor positioned adjacent to the chemical torch andwhich defines a passageway that receives the chemical flame, and whereinthe chemical reactor is electrically insulated from the chemical torch;a first electrode borne by the chemical reactor, and which is positioneddownstream, and at a first distance from the chemical torch; a secondelectrode borne by the reaction chamber, and which is positioneddownstream, and at a second distance from the chemical torch, andwherein the second distance is greater than the first distance, andwherein the second electrode is electrically insulated from the firstelectrode; a source of electrical power supplied to the first and secondelectrodes and which generates an electrical arc which passes betweenthe first and second electrodes and through the chemical flame which ispassing through the reaction zone, and wherein the electrical arcfacilitates the formation of a high temperature plasma which promotesthe chemical reaction of the first material to produce a secondmaterial; and a collection chamber positioned downstream, and at a thirddistance from the chemical torch, and wherein the third distance isgreater than the second distance, and wherein the collection chamberreceives, at least in part, the chemical flame, and which furthercollects the second material, and wherein the second electrode iselectrically insulated from the collection chamber.

These and other aspects of the present invention will be discussed ingreater detail hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below withreference to the following accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a greatly simplified longitudinal, vertical, sectional view ofa chemical reactor which utilizes the methodology and achieves thebenefits of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a chart which displays the amount of Gibbs free energy ofreaction for the chemical reactions identified as 1-4 and which arediscussed more fully in the present application.

FIG. 3 is graphical depiction of the data as provided in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This disclosure of the invention is submitted in furtherance of theconstitutional purposes of the U.S. Patent Laws “to promote the progressof science and useful arts” (Article 1, Section 8).

A chemical reactor which is useful in implementing the methodology forchemically converting a first material into a second material isidentified by the numeral 10 in FIG. 1. As seen therein, the chemicalreactor includes a chemical flame torch 11 of substantially conventionaldesign. The chemical flame torch has a main body 12 which is coupled influid flowing relation relative to a plurality of material sourcesgenerally indicated by the numeral 13. As should be appreciated by astudy of FIG. 1, the plurality of material sources 13 includes a firstmaterial source 14, which is coupled in fluid flowing relation relativeto the chemical torch, and which is combusted in the chemical torch andthereafter acted upon by a high temperature plasma in order to produce asecond material 15 which is captured or otherwise collected in acollection chamber which will be discussed in greater detailhereinafter. Still further, a source of a third material 16 is coupledin fluid flowing relation relative to the chemical flame torch. Thethird material is supplied, and combusted, with the first material toproduce the second material.

The chemical reactor 10 has a main body 20 as seen in FIG. 1. Thechemical reactor has a first end 21 and an opposite second end 22. Thechemical reactor defines a passageway 23 which extends from the firstend 21, through the second end 22. The passageway has a major, lengthdimension, and a minor, transverse dimension. The passageway 23, asseen, is operable to receive, at least in part, a chemical flame 24which is produced by the combustion of the sources of material 13, asdiscussed hereinafter. The passageway 23 confines the chemical flame 24and orients it in a given direction. As seen in FIG. 1, the chemicalflame torch 11, and the associated chemical reactor 10 are substantiallyoriented along a vertically oriented axis.

The chemical reactor 10 has opposite electrically insulative endsgenerally indicated by the numeral 30. In this regard, the electricallyinsulative ends include a first end plate 31 and opposite second endplate 32. The electrically insulative end plates 31 and 32 electricallyisolate the chemical flame torch 11 and the associated collectionchamber, which will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter, from thechemical reactor 10. The first and second electrically insulative endplates 31 and 32 each define a passageway therethrough which forms, atleast in part, a portion of the passageway 23 and which is discussed,above.

The chemical reactor 10 of the present invention further includes a pairof electrodes which are generally indicated by the numeral 40. In thisregard, electrodes include a first electrode 41 which is positioned nearthe first end 21 of the main body 20, and a second electrode 42 which isposited near the second end 22 of the main body. The respectiveelectrodes are coupled to a source of electricity 43 by means ofsuitable electrical conduits 44.

In the methodology of the present invention, following the steps ofproviding the first and second electrodes 41 and 42, the methodologyimplemented by the chemical reactor 10 includes a step of providing thesource of electricity 43, and selectively coupling the source ofelectricity to the first and second electrodes to generate an electricalarc 45 which extends along the passageway 23, and between the first andsecond ends 21 and 22, respectively. As should be understood, the stepof passing an electrical arc through the combustion or chemical flame 24has the effect of creating a plasma 46 which extends substantially alongthe major dimension of the flame as will be discussed below and whichfacilitates the production of the second material 15. In the arrangementas shown, the first and second electrodes 41 and 42 are positioned agiven distance apart. This distance is selected so as to facilitate thechemical reaction of the first material 14 into the second material 15.This selected distance may be 1 inch to several inches, or even more,depending upon the nature of the chemical reaction which is beingfacilitated by the chemical reactor 10. The distance which is selected,however, is utilized in the present methodology to increase the exposuretime of the combustion flame 24, and the resulting gas produced by thechemical flame torch, to the effects of the electrical arc 45 tofacilitate the production of the second material 15. Referring still toFIG. 1, it should be understood that the chemical reactor 10 includes anintermediate portion 47 which is positioned between the first and secondelectrodes 41 and 42 and which defines, at least in part, the passageway23. This intermediate portion is fabricated from an electricallynon-conductive material such as quartz. This intermediate quartz portionor region may be water cooled. As discussed above, the creation of theelectrical arc 45 has the effect of creating a high temperature plasma46 in the chemical reactor 10 and more specifically along the passageway23.

As seen in FIG. 1, the second end 22 of the main body rests or isotherwise mounted upon a collection chamber which is generally indicatedby the numeral 60. The collection chamber defines a cavity 61 whichreceives the second material 15 which is formed by the conversion of thefirst material 14 which is combusted by the chemical torch 11 and actedupon by the high temperature plasma 50 to generate the second material15. As seen in FIG. 1, the collection chamber is positioned downstreamfrom the chemical torch 11 and is operable to receive, at least in part,a portion of the chemical flame 24. As will be recognized, thecollection chamber 60 is electrically insulated from the chemicalreactor 10 by way of the electrically insulative end plate 32.

Therefore as seen in FIG. 1, a chemical reactor 10 is illustrated andwhich includes a combustion assembly such as a chemical flame torch 11and which is operable to receive a first material 14 and combust thefirst material to produce a resulting chemical or combustion flame 24.Still further, the chemical reactor 10 has a main body 20 which ispositioned adjacent to the combustion assembly 11 and which receives thecombustion flame 24. Still further, an electrical arc 45 is provided andwhich passes through the combustion flame 24 to create a hightemperature plasma 46. The plasma is formed in a fashion so as toincrease the residency time of the combustion flame 26 within the plasma46 and to facilitate the chemical reaction of the first material 14 intothe second material 15. As seen in FIG. 1, the combustion assembly whichcomprises a chemical torch 11 is mounted adjacent to the chemicalreactor main body 20 and is electrically insulated therefrom. Stillfurther, the collection chamber 60 is positioned in downstream fluidflowing relation relative to the chemical reactor 10, and the collectionchamber 60 is electrically insulated from the chemical reactor 10. Inthe arrangement as shown, the chemical reactor 10 has a first end 21,and an opposite second end 22 and a passageway 23, having a lengthdimension which is defined, at least in part, by the chemical reactor,and further extends from the first end 21 and through the second end 22.The high temperature plasma 46 is created along a preponderance of thelength dimension of the passageway 23. Depending upon the nature of thechemical reaction, the electrical arc 45 may be created and whichextends over less then a preponderance of the length dimension of thepassageway 23. In the chemical reactor as shown, a first electrode 41 isborne by the chemical reactor 10 and positioned in juxtaposed relationrelative to the passageway 23. Still further, a second electrode 42 isprovided and which is borne by the chemical reactor 10 and positioned inspaced relation relative to the first electrode 41. This secondelectrode 42 is further juxtaposed relative to the passageway 23.Additionally, a source of electricity 43 is provided and which isselectively electrically coupled to the respective electrodes 41 and 42and which creates the electrical arc 45 and the resulting hightemperature plasma 46. As earlier discussed, the first and secondelectrodes 41 and 42 are spaced apart at a distance which facilitatesthe production of the second material 15 from the first material 14.Additionally, from studying FIG. 1, it will be seen that the combustionassembly or chemical flame torch 11, the chemical reactor 10 and thecollection chamber 60 are substantially aligned along a substantiallyvertically oriented axis. This results in the overall assembly having asmaller industrial footprint which will facilitate the usefulness of theassembly in various industrial environments. In the arrangement asshown, the high temperature plasma 46 has a temperature of greater thanabout 5,000 degrees C. Further, the chemical flame 26, as provided,typically has a temperature of at least about 15% of the temperature ofthe high temperature plasma 46. In the arrangement as shown, a thirdmaterial 16 may be further supplied to the chemical flame torch 11, andsubsequently reacted with the source of the first material 14 in orderto produce the second material 15.

The chemical reactor 10 is effective for practicing the methodology forchemically converting a first material 14 into a second material 15. Inthis regard, the methodology of the present invention includes a firststep of providing a feed stream of a first material 14 which is to beconverted into a second material 15, combusting the first material 14 toproduce a combustion flame 24, and a resulting gas; and passing anelectrical arc 45 through the combustion flame 24, and resulting gas, tofacilitate the production of the second material 15. In the methodologyas described above, the step of passing the electrical arc 45 throughthe combustion flame 24, and the resulting gas produces a hightemperature plasma 46 which effects the conversion of the first material14 to the second material 15. In the methodology as shown, a thirdmaterial 16 may be provided, and which is chemically reacted with thefirst material 14 to produce the second material 15. In the arrangementas shown, the second material 15 may comprise a borohydride, and thefirst material may comprise a borate. A typical reaction and relatedinformation will be discussed in the example which will be providedhereinafter. In the present methodology, the step of passing theelectrical arc 45 through the combustion flame 24 facilitates asubstantially one-step chemical reaction to produce the second material15. Still further in the present method, the step of providing a thirdmaterial 16 may include providing a source of carbon which may beselected from the group which comprises elemental carbon, methane andother hydrocarbons and which is combined with the first material 14,which may comprise a borate, in order to produce the second material 15which may comprise a borohydride. As should be appreciated in thepresent methodology, the first material 14 may comprise more than onecompound.

In the methodology of chemically converting the first material 14 intothe second material 15, the methodology includes a step of a combustingthe first material 14 to produce a chemical flame 24 which has a majordimension; and passing an electrical arc 45 through the combustion flameto create a plasma 46 which extends along the major dimension of theflame and which facilitates the production of a second material 15. Inthe arrangement as shown, the chemical flame 24 extends, at least inpart, into the passageway 23 which is defined by the chemical reactor10. The passageway 23 confines, at least in part, the chemical flame 24.Still further, and as seen, the electrical arc 45 may extend between thefirst and second ends 21 and 22 of the main body 20. In the presentmethodology, the present method further includes the steps of providinga first electrode 41 which is positioned near the first end 21 of thepassageway 23; providing a second electrode 42 which is positioned nearthe second end 22 of the passageway 23; and providing a source ofelectricity 43 to the first and second electrodes 41 and 42 to generatethe electrical arc 45. In the methodology as provided for in the presentinvention, the method further includes the step of providing acollection chamber 60, and positioning the collection chamber inreceiving relation relative to the second end 22 of the passageway 23.The collection chamber 60, as illustrated, is electrically isolated orinsulated from the chemical reactor 10. Still further, the presentmethodology includes a step of cooling a region 47 of the chemicalreactor 10 which is located intermediate the first and second ends 21and 22 of the passageway 23. In the method of the present invention, andas briefly discussed above, the chemical reactor 10 is supplied with aplurality of sources of material 13. In the present method and where thefirst material 14 comprises borate, and the second material 15 comprisesa borohydride, the methodology further includes the step of supplyingsources of carbon and hydrogen which are selected from the group whichcomprises elemental carbon, methane, water and other hydrocarbons, andcombusting these same materials with the borate 14 to produce theborohydride 15. As noted earlier, the methodology also includes a stepof positioning the first and second electrodes 41 and 42 at a givendistance apart which facilitates the chemical reaction of the firstmaterial to produce the second material by means of the plasma 46.

In the example which follows, the usefulness of the present chemicalreactor 10 and associated methodology will become evident. The presentdevice finds usefulness in the conversion of a first material 14 whichmay include a sodium borate or sodium metaborate to a second materialwhich includes sodium borohydride. Those skilled in the art willrecognize that sodium borohydride has shown promise for storing largeamounts of hydrogen that could be selectively released for combustion ininternal combustion engines or to power fuel cells and the like. Thereaction of sodium borohydride with water results in the formation ofsodium borate. To predict the successful reaction of sodium borate tosodium borohydride it is useful to understand the energy requirementsfor sodium borohydride formation. This energy requirement can becalculated from the enthalpy (or heat of reaction). The Gibbs freeenergy of reaction can be used to predict thermodynamically favorablereactions. In the reactions noted below, the starting material, whichmay comprise the first material 14 is sodium metaborate, and each of thefour reactions as will be seen below will be considered with respect tothe likelihood of sodium borohydride production.NaBO₂ (S)+CH₄→NaBH₄+CO₂  (1)NaBO₂ (S)+2CH₄→NaBH₄+2CO+2H₂  (2)NaBO₂+2H₂O→NaBH₄+2O₂  (3)(0.25Na₂B₄O₇.10H₂O+0.5NaOH)/+2.75CH₄→NaBH₄+2CO₂+0.75CO+6.25H₂  (4)

In order to predict the reactions that are thermodynamically favorable,the Gibbs Free Energy change for the reactions must be calculated.Reactions 1, 2, 3 and 4 are considered for the set of the ΔG_(R) above.The Gibbs Free Energy change for reaction 3, above, is considered as towhether this specific reaction is thermodynamically favorable. If thiswere the case, this would be a very attractive reaction for theproduction of sodium borohydride by extracting hydrogen from water, thiswould also have long term implications for carbon sequestration.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, it should be understood that the datafor NaBH₄ is not available beyond 2000K. The Gibbs Free Energy offormation for NaBH₄ has been obtained by linear curve fitting of theknown data and extrapolation beyond 2000K. The Gibbs Free Energy change,ΔG_(R), for the four equations are tabulated in FIG. 2 and plotted inFIG. 3. The calculations show that reactions 1 and 3 (above) are notthermodynamically favorable. Reactions 2 and 4, on the other hand, arefavorable at high temperatures, which are very suitable for thermalplasmas. There is some suggestion that a reducing environment tostabilize the reaction product may also be necessary.

FIGS. 2 and 3 provide information which is derived from thethermodynamic calculations which were conducted for the four equationsidentified in the paragraphs immediately above. Therefore it will beseen, that reactions (2) and (4) should form sodium borohydride underthe conditions utilizing the present methodology.

Therefore, it will be seen that the present invention provides aconvenient means whereby a first material can be converted into a secondmaterial in a fashion not possible heretofore. Still further, themethodology provides economic cost advantages over the prior artpractices which have included, among others, manufacturing costlychemical torch assemblies having relatively large footprints andutilizing plasma systems which utilize increasing amounts ofelectricity.

In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described inlanguage more or less specific as to structural and methodical features.It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited tothe specific features shown and described, since the means hereindisclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention into effect.The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms ormodifications within the proper scope of the appended claimsappropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine ofequivalents.

1. A method for chemically converting a borate into a borohydride,comprising: providing a feed stream of a borate which is to be convertedinto a borohydride; combusting the borate to produce a combustion flame,and a resulting gas; and passing an electrical arc through thecombustion flame and resulting gas to facilitate the production of theborohydride.
 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the step ofpassing the electrical arc through the combustion flame, and theresulting gas produces a high temperature plasma.
 3. A method as claimedin claim 1, and further comprising: providing a source of hydrogen whichis chemically reacted with the borate to produce the borohydride.
 4. Amethod as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the step of passing theelectrical arc through the combustion flame facilitates a substantiallyone-step chemical reaction to produce the borohydride.
 5. A method asclaimed in claim 1, and further comprising: providing a source of carbonwhich chemically reacts with the borate to produce the borohydride.
 6. Amethod as claimed in claim 5, and wherein the source of carbon comprisesa hydrocarbon.
 7. A method as claimed in claim 1, and furthercomprising: increasing the exposure time of the combustion flame and theresulting gas to the effects of the electrical arc to facilitate theproduction of the borohydride.
 8. A method for chemically converting aborate into a borohydride, comprising: combusting a borate to produce achemical flame which has a major dimension; and passing an electricalarc through the combustion flame to create a plasma which extends alongthe major dimension of the flame and which facilitates the production ofa borohydride.
 9. A method as claimed in claim 8, and furthercomprising: providing a chemical reactor which defines a passagewayhaving opposite first and second ends, and wherein the chemical flameextends, at least in part, into the passageway, and wherein thepassageway confines, at least in part the chemical flame.
 10. A methodas claimed in claim 9, and wherein the electrical arc extends betweenthe first and second ends of the passageway.
 11. A method as claimed inclaim 9, and further comprising: providing a first electrode which ispositioned near the first end of the passageway; providing a secondelectrode which is positioned near the second end of the passageway; andproviding a source of electricity and selectively coupling the source ofelectricity to the first and second electrodes to generate theelectrical arc, and wherein the electrical arc extends along thepassageway, and between the first and second ends of the passageway. 12.A method as claimed in claim 9, and wherein the step of combusting theborate to produce the chemical flame further comprises: providing achemical torch and positioning the chemical torch near the first end ofthe passageway, and wherein the chemical torch is electrically insulatedfrom the reaction chamber; and supplying the borate to the chemicaltorch to be combusted.
 13. A method as claimed in claim 9, and furthercomprising: providing a collection chamber, and positioning thecollection chamber in receiving relation relative to the second end ofthe passageway, and wherein the collection chamber is electricallyisolated from the chemical reactor.
 14. A method as claimed in claim 9,and further comprising: cooling a region of the chemical reactor whichis located intermediate the first and second ends of the passageway. 15.A method as claimed in claim 8, and wherein the chemical flame has amajor and a minor dimension, and wherein the electrical arc extendsalong less than about 50% of a distance as measured along the majordimension of the chemical flame.
 16. A method as claimed in claim 8, andwherein the chemical flame has a major and a minor dimension, andwherein the electrical arc extends along greater than about 50% of adistance as measured along the major dimension of the chemical flame.17. A method as claimed in claim 8, and wherein the method furthercomprises: supplying sources of carbon and hydrogen and combusting thesources of carbon and hydrogen with the borate to produce theborohydride.
 18. A method as claimed in claim 17, and wherein thesources of carbon and hydrogen a hydrocarbon.
 19. A method forchemically converting a borate into a borohydride, comprising: providinga feed stream of a borate; providing a chemical torch, and combustingthe borate in the chemical torch to produce a chemical flame; providinga first electrode which is positioned adjacent to the chemical torch,and the chemical flame; providing a second electrode which is positionedin spaced relation, and downstream of the first electrode, and which isfurther located adjacent to the chemical flame; providing a source ofelectricity coupled to the respective first and second electrodes, andwherein the source of electricity produces an electrical arc whichpasses through the chemical flame, and which facilitates a chemicalreaction of the borate to produce a borohydride; and collecting theborohydride produced by the chemical reaction of the borate at alocation downstream of the second electrode.
 20. A method as claimed inclaim 19, and further comprising: providing a chemical reactor havingopposite first and second ends, and wherein the chemical reactor definesa passageway which extends between the first and second ends thereof,and wherein the first and second electrodes are borne by the chemicalreactor and individually positioned near the respective first and secondends of the chemical reactor, and wherein the chemical torch ispositioned near the first end of the chemical reactor.
 21. A method asclaimed in claim 20, and further comprising: cooling a region of thechemical reactor which is positioned intermediate the first and secondends.
 22. A method as claimed in claim 19, and wherein the feed streamincludes a source of hydrogen which is combusted with the borate.
 23. Amethod as claimed in claim 22, and wherein the electrical arc convertsthe chemical flame into a plasma, and wherein the plasma simultaneouslyreduces and then hydrogenates the borate to produce the borohydride. 24.A method as claimed in claim 20, and wherein the step of collecting theborohydride further comprises providing a collection chamber andpositioning the collection chamber downstream of the second electrode,and wherein the method further comprises: positioning the chemical torchand the collection chamber in an electrically nonconductive orientationrelative to the chemical reactor.
 25. A method as claimed in claim 20,and wherein a region of the chemical reactor positioned between thefirst and second electrodes is electrically nonconductive.
 26. A methodas claimed in claim 19, and wherein the borate comprises sodium borate,and borohydride comprises sodium borohydride, and wherein the methodfurther comprises: providing a source of methane and combusting thesodium borate and methane to produce the chemical flame, and wherein theelectrical arc converts the chemical flame into a plasma which increasesthe temperature of the flame and facilitates the reduction of the sodiumborate and the simultaneous hydrogenation of the sodium borate toproduce the sodium borohydride in a single step chemical reaction.
 27. Amethod as claimed in claim 19, and wherein after the steps of providingthe first and second electrodes, the method further comprises:positioning the first and second electrodes at a given distance apartwhich facilitates the chemical reaction of the borate to produce theborohydride.
 28. A method as claimed in claim 26, and wherein thepassageway as defined by the chemical reactor has a major lengthdimension and a minor transverse dimension, and wherein the plasmacreated by the electrical arc extends substantially along the majorlength dimension of the passageway.